Worth a read...

David James Duncan's The River Why

Published in 1983, "The River Why" follows Gus Orviston, a young fly-fishing prodigy who leaves his dysfunctional family in Portland, Oregon, to live in a remote cabin along the fictional Tamanawis River. Seeking solitude and a life devoted to fishing, Gus instead finds himself on a journey of self-discovery. Through encounters with eccentric locals, a wise Native American, and a beautiful woman named Eddy, Gus grapples with questions of love, purpose, and the meaning of life. Blending humor, philosophy, and vivid descriptions of nature, the novel explores the balance between isolation and connection, as Gus learns to navigate his place in the world and his relationship with the river.